Hard to believe we are already in Week two of Term 4!

It has been great to see everyone return from the school holidays and get straight back into classes and school routines.

So many exciting things happen in Term 4, so be sure to check out the important dates and lock all the end of year activities into your family calendar so you are sure not to miss out.

As sent out last week there has been an amazing Year 3 Fundraising crew led by Jackie Sternfeld who have worked tirelessly to put together this event for our community. With the purpose of making a fun filled day where everyone can come together to celebrate our community and all the cultures that make us outstanding!

Events like these are so important for our community to come together and I am looking forward to seeing everyone in the playground enjoying so many different foods and activities.

Check out all the information in the Multicultural Fair article below and in the SZapp messages for all the information.

The online silent auction will stay live for a week after the fair and has amazing activities and gifts donated by our local community. If you haven't already, please check out the link and see if there is anything here you might be able to purchase for your family.

https://www.32auctions.com/aps2024

WORLD TEACHERS DAY - Friday 25th October

As we approach World Teachers' Day, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible teachers who make such a positive impact on our students, our school, and our community.

Teachers play a vital role in shaping the future by nurturing, guiding, and inspiring our children every day. Their dedication, passion, and hard work help create a supportive and enriching environment where our students can thrive, learn, and grow.

Let’s take this opportunity to recognise and thank our teachers for the difference they make in our children’s lives. Whether it’s through their lessons, the values they instil, or the kindness they show, our teachers are truly the backbone of our school community.

We encourage you to join us in expressing gratitude to the amazing teachers who go above and beyond every day. Whether it’s a note of thanks, a smile, or simply letting them know how much they are appreciated, let’s show our support on World Teachers' Day.

Can't wait to see you all this weekend at the Multicultural Fair on Sunday. There will be so much to see and do including an inflatable obstacle course, games, a live band, food and so much more. It will be a great day of fun for the whole family! 

Please consider volunteering to help make this event a success. Click here to register.

Also, don't forget our fundraising auction is still open. There are some fantastic items to bid on including food, experiences and entertainment. Click here to place your bids.

It is vital that we know if your child/children will NOT be returning to Artarmon or will be returning late in 2025. 

Some families take extended holidays in January/February and we need to know your return date so that your enrolment can be counted. This information will enable the school to plan for staffing and classing needs. 

Please take 2 minutes to complete this form. Kindly note that this does not apply to current 2024 Year 6 students.

https://forms.office.com/r/TmG5ySUkpw

The Colour Walkathon will be held on Friday 15 November. 

All money raised will be going towards new technology resources for our school including laptops, iPads and classroom interactive screens. 

There are also great PRIZES to be won:

• $20 Westfield Gift Card for Highest money raiser per class
• Highest money per class: popcorn and ice block movie party Term 4, Week 7/8

Plus some fantastic BONUS PRIZES:

• Highest class overall: Cover Mr Coombes with powder!
• Second overall: Cover Mr Sherley and Mrs Singh with powder!
• Third overall: Cover your class teacher with powder!

Donation envelopes have gone home with your child with instructions on how to make donations:

ONLINE via the Parent Portal.

Scan QR code for link.

• Go to ‘Statement of Account’
• Select ‘Add other item’
• Select ‘Walkathon’
• Select ‘Add Items’
• Enter donation value.
• Click ‘Pay Now

CASH is accepted at the Main Office via Donation Envelopes on Wednesdays only.

Please register your interest to volunteer here.

Exploring space in 5LB and 5RH

Last term, 5LB and 5RH participated in an integrated unit on space, that included the key learning areas of science, mathematics, English and creative arts. Students worked on a multi-week ‘Mission to Mars’ project where they planned a three-year return trip. One aspect of this program was to collaboratively create a 1x1x1m cube which would serve as the total space available for everything they needed to take with them.

In addition, students planned biomes fit for survival on Mars and designed clothing suitable for life on Mars. Building working 3D models of the solar system and creating self-watering terrariums were also achieved in the unit. Students investigated how Indigenous Australians used the night sky to help with hunting, food gathering, navigation and ceremonies. This unit required critical and creative thinking skills and the ability to apply knowledge across different disciplines. An important aspect of the term’s work was to collaborate using effective communication and negotiation skills.

Year 5 Grade Authors Talk

In the last week of Term Three, Year five APS students presented a highly detailed study of an endangered species (or a threatened environment.) Integral in the terms writing unit was understanding the structure and purpose of information reports. Students nominated an area of study either animal or environment under threat
to discover the current situation, including threats to existence, both immediate and long term, and prognosis for the future.

All students completed the research about their area of study and then created a hybrid novel using facts to create a compelling story which they made into a picture book. They used diagrams, maps and drawings to add detail to their books. The model for this task is a book by Alison Lester and Colleen Tulloch, titled One Small Island which tells the tale of Macquarie Island: its history, demise and eventual recovery after scientific intervention.

The completion of the task was celebrated in the school hall, with a Meet the Author event where the best books from each class were introduced by their author to the other students of year five.

The passion is evident in these books, students were highly motivated to send the message that The Future Starts Now and sustainability is no longer a preferable strategy, but the only way forward to ensure a future for these animals, or indeed this planet.

Books are on display in the school library and the front office for a limited
time!

Last week on Friday, we had 2 cricketers from the Sydney Sixers Cricket Team (Women’s) come to Year 5 and 6 at our school. It was a pleasure to have them speak and play with us and we all learnt a new lesson to use in our daily lives.

It started off with a quick introduction of the 2 players, Kate Pelle and Kate Peterson. We were told about their positions and career span. Not long after, a Q & A session began, we had the opportunity to come up on stage and ask the players some questions. We got some advice and some strategic ways to improve our cricket skills. The quiz was the last and definitely not the least we did in the hall. The facilitator, Lachlan, asked questions as we took chances to answer. The winners would come up on stage and the girls asked the winners a special question to decide the overall winner. After an engaging session with the players in the hall, we headed for the oval.

At the oval, we played some games and practiced our skills through drills. Both the Kate’s were there to help us out. This occasion has been very inspiring for girls who play cricket and who never got the chance to play. We really enjoyed this experience with the girls and look forward to cheering them on in their matches in the WBBL (Women’s Big Bash League) championship.

Samina.R and Myra.G  [6MB]

School Travel Passes

Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. 

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

It's not too late to order Extra Curricular Photos. 

Please visit www.theschoolphotographer.com.au and select Order 2024 Photos. Enter the code: 24S1635EL52A (All letters in the code need to be in upper case otherwise the code will not be accepted.)

Orders will be sent to the school to be handed out to your child to take home. 

Transport for NSW is adjusting the rail and bus timetable in regional and outer metropolitan areas from Sunday 20 October 2024.

The changes are designed to match with the new Sydney trains network schedule.  
 
The adjusted rail timetable and bus network changes are now available for viewing in Transport’s Trip Planner. We encourage you to plan ahead at https://transportnsw.info/trip before travelling and allow extra travel time.  
 
This change is happening during the NSW Higher School Certificate and may also align with other important dates in the school calendar, so it would be appreciated if students familiarise themselves with what this may mean for travel to and from school before 20 October by visiting transportnsw.info.   
  
To provide feedback on any Transport services, please visit transportnsw.info/contact-us/feedback.